Worth getting out of bed for

Antigua & Barbuda itinerary

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Viewpoint

It’s worth the trek along the bumpy roads, and along cliffside goat paths to get to Shirley Heights, for the spectacular views. Or ask your hotel about guide-accompanied hikes up to top of the hills, and get an eyeful for the entire island. Head to Indian Creek and peer across Willoughby Bay – it’s a steep climb though, but worth it for a stolen peek over Eric Clapton’s Antigua holiday home.

Arts and culture

There are a few small museums in Antigua, which are simple but charming, and well worth popping into. The Nelson’s Dockyard Museum tells the tale of the Georgian dock’s colourful history and allows you to see how ship-building used to be before the stealth and steel of today’s modern navies. On the arts and crafts side, try the Woods Gallery (in Woods Mall, off Friars Hill Road, close to St John’s and the airport). It’s a cooperative gallery representing more than 40 artists. You can even get the chance to mingle with local artists at the monthly exhibition party held every first Friday.

Something for nothing

An afternoon snooping around St John’s lively food market on Saturdays, gives a taste of a more authentic Antiguan way of life. Have a butcher’s at the twin-towered cathedral and restored waterfront area while you’re over there too.

Shopping

In St John’s, your best bet is Redcliffe Quay and Heritage Quay. There are lots of little boutiques to browse, also some good duty-free opportunities, especially to buy shoes, sports kit and expensive watches – sometimes up to 40 per cent cheaper than in the UK. Try the Columbian Emeralds chain, available in the airport and Heritage Quay. There are also great little clothes and souvenir shops at English Harbour which is a more photogenic shopping experience.

Daytripper

If you’re only staying in Antigua, a day trip to Barbuda for the ultimate Robinson Crusoe experience. Get the 15-minute flight from VC Bird Airport for EC$118. Interestingly, Barbuda’s highest point is only 125-feet above sea level. The whole island is 62 square miles, and the surrounding seas are filled with shoals of colourful fish to eyeball – a mask and snorkel are mandatory. There are reefs surrounding most of the island and plenty of wrecks to be explored for those who need a scuba diving fix – you’ll need to arrange this previously (try www.diveantigua.com) remembering that you can’t fly for 24 hours before or after a dive, so you’ll be limited to the ferry (www.antiguaferries.com).

Best beach

In Antigua, Hawksbill Bay, on the northwest coast, comprises a series of stunning crescent-shaped beaches and is well worth exploring to find your own little sun-spot. Half Moon Bay, located on the east coast, is a great beach for families. South-west is Darkwood Beach, voted as one of the most gorgeous in the world, prior to Hurricane Katrina, but is still rather special. Long Bay is on the most easterly point on the island and is a good choice for families and snorkelling as it is completely protected by its reef. Head north-west for Dickenson Bay if you prefer a livelier beach, as it has music in the bars and live bands. Jolly Harbour is a bit like a pocket of Florida, but the stretch of white sand at Jolly Beach is one of the most spectacular – crystal-clear wade-able waters and plenty of restaurants, watersports, and shopping amenities nearby if you need them. In Barbuda, Access Beach is great for swimming as it’s calm and shallow, Spanish Point has the best snorkelling on the island.

Perfect picnic

Hawksbill Bay is also a great place to relax over a picnic under a palm tree and then enjoy a post-prandial stroll around the four beaches. To drive there, head towards Hawksbill Beach Hotel, and just before it you should see somewhere to park. You can pick up supplies at supermarkets such as the Epicurean or the Gourmet Basket in St John’s or Jolly Harbour, although don’t expect to find anything more as upmarket as an organic or deli-like ilk. For a decent bottle of wine, try the C&C Wine Bar, a quaint cafe which serves South African wine. Otherwise, an easier option is to ask your hotel to try and rustle something up for you, which they should be happy to do. It’s also worth visiting the covered food market in St John’s’ Heritage Quay for more traditional Caribbean ingredients.

Children

Pirates of Antigua is a great tour for kids, with the chance for them to play pirate for the day aboard the schooner, the Black Swan (www.piratesofantigua.com).

Activities

Watersports are extremely popular in Antigua and Barbuda with sailing, boat cruising, waterskiing, deep-sea and reef fishing through to scuba diving; you can also snorkel among the 200 shipwrecks surrounding the island. Antigua Rainforest Canopy Tour (www.antiguarainforest.com) is ideal for adventurous families or groups of friends. The tour takes you on a journey through the verdant forest, high above the trees supported by wires and assortment of suspension bridges, zip lines and swings, climaxing with a daredevil 60-foot controlled parachute jump. For horseriding, get in touch with Spring Hill Riding Club (+1 268 460 7787). There are breathtaking trails close to English Harbour, and paths up into the stunninvg hillside, you can een hit several beaches in the surrounding reserve and take your horse for a swim.

And...

To experience Antigua’s musical heritage, go for a walk round the Saturday food market in St John’s which is replete with some seriously Notting-Hill-Carnival-beating sound-systems belting out local tunes.